Surigaonon language

Surigaonon is a Philippine regional language spoken by Surigaonon people in the province of Surigao del Norte, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Sur, and some portions of Agusan del Norte especially the towns near the Mainit Lake, Agusan del Sur and Davao Oriental. It is a part of the Visayan language family and is closely related to other Philippine languages. Though it seems related to Cebuano it was due mainly to the influx of many Cebuanos in the region and some Cebuano words were loaned, although most Cebuano speakers can hardly understand Surigaonon speakers except for Cebuanos who has been living in the region for years.

It is very closely related to the Tausug language of Sulu (specially the root Tausug language without the Arabic words influence) and the Butuanon vernacular of Butuan. The very close variety spoken in Tandag City, San Miguel, Tago, Bayabas, Cagwait, Marihatag, San Agustin and most part of Lianga is called Tandaganon^[3] and it can be classified as a separate language or simply just a southern variation of Surigaonon as most of the speakers live in the south (Surigao del Sur) and Surigaonon itself is the northern (Surigao del Norte) variation, which has far more speakers than Tandaganon, who occupy the municipalities of Surigao del Norte and the northern municipalities of Surigao del Sur. Surigaonon and Tandaganon can understandand each other perfectly well even if they use their own languages in conversation (the same treatment to Boholano dialect of Cebuano).

Surigaonon or/and Tandaganon is spoken in Surigao del Norte and most part of Surigao del Sur (except in the City of Bislig, Municipalities of Barobo, Hinatuan, Lingig and Tagbina where most of the inhabitants are descendants of Cebuanos who migrated from Visayas who speak Cebuano and the rest are natives who speak Kamayo a different language but distantly related to Surigaonon).

Phonology

According to Dumanig (2005), Surigaonon has a similar phonological inventory as her sister Visayan languages, Cebuano and Boholano.

Vowels

Below is the vowel system of Surigaonon (Dumanig, 2005):

Consonants

Below is a chart of Surigaonon consonants (Dumanig, 2005).

Clusters

Surigaonon has 25 consonant clusters (br, bl, bw, by, dr, dy, dw, gr, gw, kr, kl, kw, mw, my, nw, pr, pl, pw, py, sw, sy, tr, tw, ty, hw) and 4 diphthongs (aw, ay, iw, uy), which is similar to Cebuano.

Comparison between Surigaonon, Cebuano, and Tausug

Sample words and phrases

• -ambaw - rat
• -diin – where
• -kun-o – when, future
• -kagan-o – when, past
• -uno – what
• -sin-o or siman – who
• -tag-uno – how
• -"salamat karajaw" – Thank you very much
• -na ay, unja na (the actual word is "ngaj'an") – later
• -"ay ay na bata ini!" – Tsk tsk this child!
• -"uman kaw?" (contraction of "na uno man kaw?") – What happened to you?
• -ajo-ajo/amping (Cebuano "ayo ayo") – Take care
• -"na buang na" – This is crazy
• -"Simba ko" – "Knock on wood"
• -"Pag hilom ngad-on" or "saba did-on" – Be silent there
• -maradjao (Surigaonon) or madayao (Tandaganon) – good
• -maradjao na buntag – Good morning
• -maradjao na hapon – Good afternoon
• -haman kaw? (composed of "hain" and "man") – Where are you?
• -ngayan (Surigaonon) or ngan(Tandaganon) - name
• -uno may imo ngayan?/unoy ngayan mo? – What is your name?
• -pila may imo edad? (Tandaganon)or "pila may edad mo?" (Surigaonon) – How old are you?
• -grabehi sa nimo ka gwapa (Tandaganon) "gulpi man kaw kagwapa"/ "grabeh nimo ka gwapa"(Surigaonon) – You are so beautiful
• -gwapahi – very beautiful
• -arang - very
• -arang ka tignaw - very cold
• -"grabehi nimo ka yaot/taru" or grabe nimo kayaot (Surigaonon) – You're so ugly
• -tagad (Tandaganon) huyat (Surigaonon) – wait
• -ihap – count
• -"tabangi ko" (same as Cebuano), in Norte "tabangi ako" – Help me
• - pagpaspas/pagdali (same as Cebuano) – be fast
• -"maradjao (madayao) na duyom dijo nahurot" – Good evening to all
• -"hain man (ha'man) kaw pasingod?" – Where are you going?
• -kuman – now
• -silom – tomorrow
• -mahagkot, tignaw,pakukog– cold
• -paso, malangka – hot
• -wayong - face
• -alima – hand
• -sike – leg
• -"taghigugma ta kaw" – I love you
• -mangita nan sine – watch a movie. . .atud (old Surigaonon word)
• -"mupanaw na ako kuman" – I will leave now
• -inday uno or waya ako mahibayo – I don't know
• -jaon – that
• -"uno yaon (jaon)?" or "uman yaon (jaon)?" – What is that?
• -manguyab – courting
• -kalasangan or guyangan(surigaonon)/guwangan(tandaganon) - forest
• -doot - the other side of the river
• -baro (Surigaonon)- dress
• -dayag/kat-kat - climb
• -kayajo(Surigaonon)/kayo(tandanganon) - fire
• -buyod(Surigaonon)/Bud(tandaganon) - mountain
• -hilam - mosquito
• -duyod(Surigaonon)/duwd(tandaganon) - to approach
• -yaon (Tandaganon) or jaon (Surigaonon)- have
• -ingod or tungod - beneath the house (in Cebuano "silong")
• -adja(Surigaonon)/aya(Tandaganon) - just or only ( e.g. "adja ra man kaw magsinaoy saoy" You are just interrupting)
• - bakoy(Surigaonon)/baku'(tandaganon) - thumb
• - puyo(Surigaonon)/Puro(Tandaganon) - island
• - kayajo - fire
• - miya - cat
• - ilaja - farm

References

• Dumanig, Francisco (2005). A descriptive analysis of Surigaonon language. [online article]. Retrieved December 4, 2008: http://lingweb.eva.mpg.de/jakarta/seals/Dumanig_SEALS_XVI_Abstract.pdf
• Rubrico, J. G.(1999). Magbinisaya kita: Cebuano primer I. Quezon City: IJR Links and Consultant.
• Surigaonon.(2000). [online article]. Retrieved August 28, 2003: http://www.flw.com/languages/surigaonon.htm

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